Rep. Joseph Votes No on HB26-1129, Citing Climate, Cost, and Public Health Concerns

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 20, 2026

Denver, CO — Thursday, House Bill 26-1129 failed to advance out of the House Energy & Environment Committee. Representative Joseph voted no, stating that the bill would have weakened Colorado’s climate framework, increased long-term costs for families, and undermined the state’s clean energy progress.

As the representative for Boulder, Rep. Joseph has consistently emphasized that clean air, climate responsibility, and economic innovation go hand in hand. Boulder residents have made significant investments in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to clean energy, and building a healthier and more resilient future for their children. She stated that HB26-1129 ran counter to those values and commitments.

Rep. Joseph’s opposition centered on several key provisions. The bill would have exempted residential carbon dioxide emissions from clean heat plans, despite residential buildings being one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Colorado. She argued that removing an entire sector from the accounting framework does not reduce emissions — it simply excludes them from the calculation — and undermines the state’s ability to meet its climate targets.

She also raised concerns about requiring utilities to exclude residential emissions from their baseline and projected emissions calculations. Rep. Joseph emphasized that baselines determine the scale of required reductions and the credibility of climate goals. Artificially shrinking those baselines, she said, would weaken accountability and erode the integrity of Colorado’s clean heat standards.

In addition, Rep. Joseph objected to language prohibiting the Public Utilities Commission from adopting rules that could limit gas infrastructure expansion to residential properties. She noted that tying the Commission’s hands would restrict its ability to balance safety, affordability, and the long-term public interest — including managing stranded asset risks and protecting ratepayers from paying for infrastructure that may not align with Colorado’s climate goals.

The bill also allowed full annual recovery of projected system safety and integrity project costs, including a guaranteed return. While Rep. Joseph acknowledged that safety investments are essential, she warned that automatic recovery through rate adjustment clauses shifts financial risk onto ratepayers. With families already facing rising utility bills, she argued that this approach could increase costs while slowing the transition to cleaner, more cost-effective technologies.

Finally, Rep. Joseph opposed repealing the prohibition on gas utility incentives — including line extension allowances — for new gas service. She stated that reinstating incentives to expand gas infrastructure sends the wrong signal at a time when communities across Colorado are working to electrify buildings and reduce fossil fuel dependence.

During committee testimony, representatives from the Colorado Energy Office, Western Resource Advocates, the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, and Conservation Colorado warned that HB26-1129 would weaken Colorado’s greenhouse gas standards and create a significant loophole in the state’s clean heat framework.

“Clean heat policy is also public health policy,” Rep. Joseph said. “Gas combustion contributes to indoor air pollution and increases respiratory risks for children, seniors, and those with asthma. Colorado must continue strengthening our climate commitments — not weakening them.”